Pralines
This advice applies to a lot of candy making – divinity and meringues in particular – but don’t ever try to make pralines on a day with high humidity or storms. None of us are chemistry experts, but we know enough about what we don’t know to consult Chapter 12, “Sugars, Chocolate, and Confectionery,” of the excellent and frankly invaluable On Food and Cooking, by … Continue reading Pralines
Pâte a choux
In our house, this is “kluski” dough used in soup. Add Parmesan, and it becomes gnocchi dough. In French bakeries, this dough is used for eclairs, and cream puffs, and all kinds of delicious crispy pastries stuffed with cream and fruit. Master Paul Bocuse, however, uses 7-8 eggs per batch. Cook water, butter and flour over medium heat until batter pulls away from the sides … Continue reading Pâte a choux
Turtle Brownies
It occurs to us, as we flip through our recipes, that we have an awful whole lot of recipes for turtle brownies, turtle bars, turtle cake, and the like. We have a similarly alarming number of recipes for brownies and variations thereto. This recipe, from Carla’s college friend Nathan Mills, is not only easy to make (make a small child feel useful by unwrapping all … Continue reading Turtle Brownies
Chicken Alfredo
Sauté chicken breasts in olive oil on very low heat, turning frequently until chicken is very lightly browned and cooked through. Cut into strips. While chicken is cooking, cook and drain pasta. In sauté pan, make a roux from butter and flour. Add chicken broth, then Parmesan cheese to taste. When sauce is thickened, slowly stir in cream – about a cup. Add chicken strips … Continue reading Chicken Alfredo
Canned Chicken and Biscuits
We offer no apologies for including recipes with canned soup or biscuits in them – the oldest three siblings are baby boomers, and all of us grew up on this stuff. Agreed, most would be better with scratch-made sauces. But canned soups are popular again, so enjoy the grandma vibe. 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 large can mushrooms (stems and pieces, or, better … Continue reading Canned Chicken and Biscuits
Bierocks
Most cultures have a meat-filled pastry: calzones, pasties, pierogies, empanadas, dumplings among them. This is the Eastern European-Slavic version from our “satellite sister,” Jennifer Epps Grasela, Ania’s college roommate and lifelong best friend. This recipe takes about five hours’ work from start to finish, but the result is totally worth it. Bierocks do freeze well, and reheat well in the microwave; we think one day … Continue reading Bierocks
Yeast Rolls
Carla’s recipe card says this is from Ruby McIntyre. If this is really from Miss Ruby, the proprietor of Ruby’s Soul Food Cafe in Kansas City, beloved for fried chicken, chitterlings, and peach cobbler, and by generations of cops and jazz musicians, you will want to try this out. Dissolve yeast in water. After it dissolves, add all other ingredients except flour; slowly add 4 … Continue reading Yeast Rolls
Butterscotch Pecan Roll Topping
This buttery, nicely sticky topping can be used with any of our sweet roll doughs, but you’ll probably have to double it if your dough makes more than 8 or 10 rolls. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Pour melted butter into 9 x 9 square pan; grease sides of pan. In small saucepan, combine brown sugar, corn syrup and cinnamon – heat slowly until it … Continue reading Butterscotch Pecan Roll Topping
Mennonite Cinnamon Rolls
There had to be a recent German branch of the family somewhere in Grammy’s France-Luxembourg background; there are just too many family recipes that are identical to the ones found in Pennsylvania Dutch or Mennonite cookbooks. But Grammy was a teenager during World War I, and her children’s generation fought in World War II; Germany and German heritage was deeply unpopular then, and many German-Americans … Continue reading Mennonite Cinnamon Rolls
Leek Tart
This is a lovely warm tart for the chilly days of winter and early spring. Leeks go out of season in late March or early April, so if you miss it you should wait until October or November for your best shot. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9 x 9 baking dish – round is pretty, but you … Continue reading Leek Tart
Around Our Table 